Cycloramic apparatus.



PATENTED DEG. 1'7, 1907.

R. G. GORDON.

GYGLORAMIG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUN'E 22.1907.

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PATENTED DB0. 1v, 19o?.

R. G. GORDON.

, CYGLORAMIG APPARATUS.

No.v 874,328.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22.1907.

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' No, 874,328. l' PATBNTBD DEC. 17,1907. y RfG. GORDON. v l oYcLoRAMIo APBARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 22.1907. l 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. Y

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- ROBERT GEORGE GORDON, OF CALGARY, ALBERTA., CANADA..

CYCLORAMIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17', 1907'.

Application filed June 22I 1907. Serial No. 380.252.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT GEORGE Gon- DON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Calgary, in the Province of Alberta and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and improved Cycloramic Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to acycloramic apparatus for producing an illusion, and is especially useful where an illusion such as an apparent rocking mot-ion is to be given to the observer.

In the following specification, the invention isdescribed in the form of a marine cyclorama which is presented to the, observer, ar-

, rangement being made for giving the same having1 effect as though the observer were standing upon the deck of a rolling ship.

The invention consists in the constructionand combination of parts to he more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings formin a part of this spec-iiication, in which simi ar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through the apparatus,`taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the rocking frame by means of which the illusion of rolling or rocking is produced; Fig. 3 is avertical section upon an enlarged scale, and illustrating especially the mechanism for mounting the lanterns and for producing the illusion of'rocking; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5,`of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but taken at a higher elevation, on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the parts and especially to Fig. 1, 1 represents a boX- shaped structure or house having an elevated floor 2 provided with a continuous rail 3, and

stanchions 4 which appear to support t e ceiling 5. The ceiling 5 represents the hurricane deck of a ship, while the iioor 2 represents the dpromenade deck. The parts are constructe so as to'represent-the corresponding parts yof a ship, and the middle portion of the floor or deck 2 is inclosed in a 'small rail 6, within which the observer is supposed to stand.

Passing .up through the middle point of the upper end of a main rock bar 27.

the deck 2, I provide a vertical shaft or companionway 7, having steps 8 which permit persons to ascend to the promenade deck. The shaft 7 is continued to a considerable height above the deck 2, and supports a lantern house or boX 9. This lantern house is of elongated or oblong form, as indicated in Fig. 6, and is provided with openings 10. These openings are disposed opposite to the spaces between the stanchions, and behind the stanchions a continuous screen 11 is placed. Centrally disposed in the lantern house I provide an elongated rocking frame 12 which presents two parallel bars 13. The

manner of mounting the lanterns 14 is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Each lantern is mounted upon a fixed bracket or pedestal 15 and is arranged for adjustment by means of an adjusting screw 16 and a curved slot 17 through which a screw 18 passes near the lens of t e lantern. The arrangement is such that the lanterns may be pointed at the screen respectively so as to project pictures upon the screen by means of a lime light or similar means. a guide 19 is formed, having a slide or transparency 20. These transparencies are connected by hinge joints 21 at their lower edges with links 22 respectively, and these links are connected by hinge joints 23 with the frame 12. The frame 12 is sup orted at its middle point 'in the manner ilustrated in Fi s. 3 and 4. For this purpose, it is provi ed with a transverse cross bar or cross head 24, and this cross bar is provided with a rigid gudgeon or horizontal pin 25 which is rotatably mounted in a fork 26 providedmft e pin 25 extends in a longitudinal direction with respect to the frame 12. The rock bar 27 is supported just below the fork 26 upon a transversely disposed rock shaft 28. Attached rigidly to the pin 25 there is provided an auxiliary rock bar 29, and the lower ends of these bars 27 and 29 lie close together near the lower floor 3Q of the house, and in the lower part of the shaft 7. At this point I rovide a framework 31 which supports a orizontal shaft 32 which is adapted to be driven continuously by means of a pulley 33. The shaft 32 is provided with an oblong or oval cam 34, indicated most clearly in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The face of this cam lies against the side face of the main rock bar 27, so that as the shaft 32 rotates, the bar 27 In the forward part of each lantern' will rock to and fro. In this way the frame 12 will be made to rock upon the axis of the shaft 28, as will be readily understood. The rock bar 27- is held against the face of the cam by means of a suitable leaf spring 35 attached to the floor, as indicated in Fig. 4.

In addition to the cam 34 I provide a second cam 36 which consists of a wheel presenting a projection on its side face and against which the auxiliary rock bar 29 is held by means of a spring 37 similar to the spring 35 referred to above. From this arrangement it should be understood that when the shaft 32 is rotated, the frame 12 will be given a rocking movement, not only on the axis of the shaft 28, but also will have a rocking movement upon its own longitudinal axis 3 that is, upon the axis of the pin 25. When the frame 12 is given this rocking movement, the transparencies or slides 20 will move up and down in the ides 19, and the pictures projected upon t e screen will constantly appear to rise and fall. As the slides are all attached to the frame 12, they lmove as one piece, and the eii'ect is produced of a rocking boat.

In order to steady the .movement of the frame, I place helical springs 38 at the under side of the frame at the ends thereof, -as shown in Fig. 2. These springs rest at .their under sides against a scantling or timber 39 which extends across the end of the shaft, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3.

The pictures thrown upon the screen are preferably marine views, and they may be changed if desired, from mid-ocean views to views including parts of the shore.

Having thus described 'my invention, I claim asY new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

il. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a screen adapted to have a continuous picture cast thereupon, picture-pro jecting mechanism, and means for rocking a part of said mechanism to rock the picture on said. screen.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a screen adapted to have a continuous picture cast thereupon, a frame, a plurality of pictureecasting devices carried thereby, and means for rocking parts of said devices simultaneously to rock the pictures on said screen.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a frame, a plurality of slides, lanterns guidinga said slides, and means for rocking said. frame, and a screen receiving the pictures cast by said lanterns.

4. In apparatus of the class described in combination, a screen adapted to have plctures cast thereupon, a frame mounted to rock on different axes, picture-casting de vices partly carried by said frame, and `means for rocking said frame.

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a screen adapted to receive pictures, a frame mounted to rock on two axes substantially at right angles to each other, picture-casting slides mounted on said frame, and means for rocking said frame.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in

lcombinatlon, a cycloramic screen, a frame disposed in a central position with respect to said screen, a pluralityof picture-casting devices throwing pictures on said screen, and means for moving said frame to rock said pictures on said screen.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT GEORGE GORDOIY Witnesses:

JOHN SMITH, W. L. WAINEs. 

